Hitting

It was a weird offensive week, as the Royals posted dreadful walk (3.2 percent) and strikeout (26.9 percent) numbers while still getting above-average production across their triple-slash lines. KC was helped by a power surge and perhaps some good hitting fortune, posting an AL-best .370 batting average on balls in play.

Hitting with runners in scoring position

2015 — .282/.347/.426

2016 — .259/.312/.372

After going 8-for-54 in this situation last week (.148), KC didn’t fare much better this week, going 8-for-46 (.174). The two-week slump has moved the Royals well off their “clutch” pace from 2015.

Starting pitching

2015 — 4.34 ERA, 16.8 K%, 7.6 BB%

2016 — 4.80, 20.3, 9.3

Last 7 games — 3.63, 23.2, 10.6

Royals starters appeared to be a bit fortunate this week, working around an AL-worst walk percentage while still keeping their ERA below 4. Even with encouraging strikeout numbers, KC’s starting staff remains the team’s biggest weakness, posting the worst home-run rate and third-worst walk rate in the majors this season.

Relief pitching

2015 — 2.72, 22.9, 8.7

2016 — 2.57, 23.9, 8.5

Last 7 games — 1.04, 20.6, 7.9

The biggest difference between the Royals starters and relievers has been — as you might expect — the ability to limit homers. Royals relievers have given up 0.63 HR/9, a mark that is second in the majors behind the Chicago White Sox.

Defense

2015 — 51 defensive runs saved (.315 per game, 2nd in MLB)

2016 — 16 defensive runs saved (.250 per game, ninth in MLB)

Whit Merrifield appears to have had a major impact on KC’s defensive numbers. In 23 games, he has accumulated 5 defensive runs saved, a number that is tied for second among all primary second basemen (Boston’s Dustin Pedroia is first).

Top 5 in Fangraphs WAR

2015 — Cain 6.6, Moustakas 3.8, Hosmer 3.5, Gordon 2.8, Ventura 2.7

2016 — Perez 1.9, Cain 1.6, Volquez 1.1, Merrifield 1.0, Duffy 1.0

Jeff Sullivan had a great piece about Danny Duffy’s emergence as a potential ace, a development that has come partly because of his ability to throw more strikes. In six starts, Duffy has a 2.90 ERA with 38 strikeouts and five walks, and he’s also leading all MLB starters in first-strike percentage (71 percent), a number that further shows his commitment to attacking the strike zone.

Bottom 5 in Fangraphs WAR

Among MLB hitters, Alcides Escobar has the worst WAR over the last two weeks (-0.7), the second-worst WAR over the last month (-0.7) and the 10th-worst WAR over the last calendar year (0.2). It makes you wonder: If Raul Mondesi had not gotten his 50-game suspension, would he be on the verge of a callup in KC?